Horizontal vulcanizer



March 11, 1930., A. .1. FLEn-ER m- Ax.

HORIZONTAL VULCANIZER Filed May 4, 1927 l O y glux 1 Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANDREW J'. FLEITER, OF AKRON, HENRY C. BOSTWICK, OF KENMORE, AND THEO- DORE ALBERT MILLER, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE AKRON STANDARD MOLD COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO HORIZONTAL VULCANIZER Application led May 4,

This invention relates to the vulcanization of tires or tubes and particularly to the provision of a horizontally arranged vulcanizer provided with va swinging section or cover which is adapted to be moved upon a'horizon- 'tal axis to open theA vulcanizer for insertion and removal of the goods. The obJect'of the invention is to construct a simple, easily operated vulcanizer of this type in which the opening and closing of the vulcanizer is en tirely automatic, being controlled by a single locking ring which is in turn, operated b a cylinder, the ring, in opening the mold, rst unlocking the two sections and then, in continued movement, elevating the-upper section so as to afford access to the interior of the vulcanizer.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated and described herein, the vulcanizer is shown adapted and equipped for the vulcanization of inner tubes by the full molded process in which the'tube is maintained in inflated condition in the tube molding cavity during the curing operation. It will be apparent however, that by changing the configuration lof the interior of the mold the apparatus can be adapted for the curing of tires.

In the drawings in which the best known 80 and preferred embodiment of the invention is shown:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the vulcanizer; and

Figure 2 is a vertical section, the vulcanizer being shown in closed position in full lines.

The apparatus comprises a main or front standard 1 and a rear or supplementary standard 2, to the upper surfaces of which is attached the lower horizontal or stationary vulcanizer section 3. This section comprises a single hollow casting 4, the upper surface of which is formed with a vulcanizing cavity 5, here shown as shaped and adapted for curing an inner tube, and the interior of which constitutes a cavity or chamber 8 for the circulation of steam, the cavity being enclosed by a cover plate 6. The lower or stationary section is provided with parallel arms or brackets 10 which are secured directly to 50 the top of the rear standard 2.

192:?. Serial No. 188,635.

The upper or swinging section 12 is a casting having a recess 14 in its lower face mating with and complementary to the cavity 5. It. is also provided with a steam cavity 15 and with an outer chamber 16 separated therefrom by a partition 18, the outer chamber being enclosed by a cover plate 20. This outer chamber being filled with air, constitutes an efectiva heat insulating chamber to conserve the heat utilized in the vulcanizer.

The upper section 12 is provided with arms 22, parallel to the arms 10, the pairs of arms being connected by a pivot pin 23 rotatably mounted in the arms 10 and connected to the arms 22.

The lower or stationary section 4 is formed with a circular groove 24 in which is fitted the flange 25 of a two part locking ring 26. This ring is extended upwardly around the upper or swinging section 12 and is provided with a plurality of overhanging lugsl or arms 27. These lugs are intended to engage with .a like number of lugs 28 formed about the upper section, the lugs being provided with mating inclined surfaces, or wear plates 30, so that as the ring is rotated in one direction the two sections of the mold will be faced together and locked. When rotated in the opposite direction the two sections will be interlocked so that the upper section may swing on the pivot pin 23. A counter weight 32 is carried upon the arm 33 attached to a cross plate 31 secured to the rear ends of the arms 22. y

.In order to rotate the ring 26 is provided with a segmental rack 35, the under surface of which engages with a bevel gear 36 carried upon the 'end of'a horizontal shaft 38 supported in the standard 1 and in a bearing bracket 40 attached to the standard. The inner end of the shaft 38 is provided with a pinion 41 which meshes with a'vertical rack 42 carried by a piston 43, operated by a cylinder 44 which is carried on the lower portion of the standard 1. A 4-way'valve admits hydraulic pressure to either side of the piston to raise and lower the rack and correspondin gly rotate the locking ring, the valve being controlled by a valve operating handle 46.

As the ring is revolved to an unlocked position and after the lugs on the ring and the lugs on the upper vulcanizer section are out oi register, the continued movement of the ring is utilized for the purpose of elevating the upper mold section. F or this purpose there is secured to the shaft 23 a spiral gear section 48 and to the ring 26 is secured a second. .Spiral gear section 49 which is .located in the path of and adapted to mesh with the sect-ion 48, as the ring nears the limit of its rotary movement. This will rock the shaft 23 and raise the upper vulcanizer section, which will be locked in open position until the operator removes the vulcanized goods,

refills the mold and operates the rack 42 in the reverse direction. The open position of the upper vulcanizer section is indicated by' the dotted line position in Figure 2.

It will be apparent that the showing made herein is subject to lnodication and alteration Within the scope of the invention, and the invention is not necessarily restricted to exact conformity With the details of construction.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. A vulcanizer ofthe class described oomprising a. stationary section and a movable section, a locking ring about the stationary section, lugs on the ring, mating lugs on the movable section, and means to rotate the ring about the movable section comprisin a rack on the ring, a gear in engagement Wlth the rack, a shaft for the gear, a pinion upon the shaft, a second rack in engagement with the pinion, and a hydraulic cylinder to move the second rack.

. 2. A vuleanizer of the class described comprising al stationary section and a pivoted section, a locking ring about the stationary section, lugs on the ring and mat-ing lugs in the pivoted section, means to rotate the ring about the stationary section comprising a rack on the rino', a gear in engagement With the rack, a shatt for the gear, a. pinion upon the sha-ft, a second rack in engagement with the pin, a hydraulic cylinder to move the second rack, a gear section on the ring, and a second gear section in the path of the irst gear section and secured to the pivoted section.

ANDREW J. FLETER.

HENRY C. BOSTWIGK.

THEODRE ALBERT Rn Lvsaeee 

